The Environmental Protection Agency today issued a preliminary finding that greenhouse gases "contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare." The agency identified six greenhouse gases as posing a potential threat to human health.

The decision was in response to a Supreme Court Ruling that forced the agency to consider whether greenhouse gases should be regulated under the Clean Air Act. “In both magnitude and probability, climate change is an enormous problem. The greenhouse gases that are responsible for it endanger public health and welfare within the meaning of the Clean Air Act.”

"This finding confirms that greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations..." said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson."This pollution problem has a solution – one that will create millions of green jobs and end our country’s dependence on foreign oil."

The proposed endangerment finding now enters the public comment period, which is the next step in the deliberative process EPA must undertake before issuing final findings. Before taking steps to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, EPA would conduct an appropriate process and consider stakeholder input.

Congress is expected to create legislation to regulate greenhouse gases, possibly establish a carbon cap and trade program that is supported by the White House.